Line gripping device



1950 J. D. MONIE 2,518,630

LINE GRIPPING DEVICE Filed Feb. 14,1946 T 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor g- 5, 1950 J. D. MONIE 2,518,630

LINE GRIPPING DEVICE Filed Feb'. 14, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor B @zmwiu J. D. MONIE LINE GRIPPING DEVICE Aug. 15, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 14, 1946 I I Inventor flfiifIfl/VZWZG.

By W

February 2, 1926.

Patented Aug. 15, 1950 UNITED 4 "O FICE I Mam I V'LINEV' --GBIPPING ev ce n -ts p -Mi frran qa ek I i rn iga pi ine 14, ea; a wae9 This invention relates to improvements in line-gripping devices of the type' shown in the U. S. patent to W. L. Kelly, No. 1,571,336," dated An important object or the present invention is to provide an improved locking device to keep the gripping lever or dog in gripping position irrespective'of'the varying tension on the line due to the swaying action ofthe wind or itide upon the extended line. a f

A further object of the invention is to so con- Qlki mss (01.245123) struct the device as to adapt it for use in connection :with anchor or mooring ropes for boats, the gripping means being'carried by a swivelled post so as to overcome any-tendency .of" the line to slip out of the groove of the gripping lever by permitting the clamping means to turn in the direction 'of'the-tension .onthe line. r

A further object of the. invention is to provide means whereby the form of the device adapted for holding anchor and mooring lines maybe readily mounted on a boat for use or removed therefrom for safekeeping when not in use.

Another object of the invention is to adapt the device for use as a wire-gripping device for view of a gripping device constructed in accord:

ance with the present. inventionand adaptedcfor use as-a clothesline holder. v r

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the locking element for the line-grippinglever.

-F igure"3 is .a view partly in sideelevation and partly broken away andrin section, showing a modification of the device illustrated in,F igure Figure 4 isa view partly :in side elevation and partly inusection of a form of the invention adapted for :usexas .a :holder for .anclwr -a nd mooring lines.

Figure ,5 is an enlarged fragmentary, transverse section :taken on.-;line 5- 5 fFigure ure isat0np vi wo thek eper bass forming part of the device shown in Figured.

"Figure '7 :is ,a transverse section taken ,on the line .l-rl-ofiEigurefi. 1

Figure 8 is a side ieievational vi w at e bodiment tor the imsmtion adap ed Afar as e wire-gripping device for wire stretchers, or the like; 7 V

Figure -9is a top plan view of the part of the deviceshownin Figure 8 in which the gripping leveris pivoted. 1 I Figure 10 is side elevation showing a, modifipationof the embodiment of Figures 8 and 9, and illustrating -itin'use for connecting the ends of a pul-ley clothesline.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the pres- 'ent gripping device includes an attaching member 5 having a laterally extending arm 6'provided, at its outer or free end, with a, vertical opening I. At'the outer end of the opening I, the arm 5 is formed to provide a transverse, cylindrical pivot bar 8. a

The device-further includes a gripping lever or dog 9 which is in the form of a compound curve and isdisposed to extend through the opening 1 so as to present a rearwardly directed, lower end It underlying the portion of arm 6 directly at the rear of the opening I and where said arm is shaped to form a gripping face H. The rearwardly directed end [ii is formed with teeth I2 to grip the portion of the rope or line :disposed between the end Lil and the face II. The dog or lever 8 is provided in its rear face with a longitudinal groove Is that extends from the teeth l2 through the forwardly directed upper end IA of the lever. In order to prevent the lever 9 from passing downwardly through the opening I, it is provided intermediate its ends and on opposite sides with shoulders i5 adapted -.to rest on the arm 6 at opposite sides of the opening 1. The terminal of the end I0 is also provided with ,a groove i6 tohold the line in place, if desired. In the form of the invention shown in Figure '1, the "attaching member 5 is in the form of a vertical base plate provided with ,end slots ll for receiving screws, orthe like, which secure the device to a support.

Thus far described, the device of Figure 1 is similar to that disclosed in the Kelly patent mentioned above, the lever B being formed at theiront and intermediate its ends with a transverse groove 18 which conforms'to and receives therpivot bar 8 so that the lever Q is pivotally and removably mounted in the opening i of armB.

The present invention contemplates provision of the EIQVBI' :9 with ,a locking element [9 to keep th leve in g pp n 1395 101 a d r y ma ntain its grip upon the rope or line irrespective of the ;varying tension of the rope or line in the directionof the arrow a due to the swaying 3 action of the wind or tide upon the extended rope or line. As shown, this locking element is preferably in the form of an elongated wire bail having transversely aligned, inturned ends 20 pivotally engaged in a transverse opening provided in the upper end portion M of the lever 9, as at 2|, said bail being of a length to engage the attaching member 5 above and adjacent the arm 6 when said element I9 is disposed at a rearward inclination and the end In of lever 9 has a secure gripping engagement with the rope or line, as shown in Figure 1.

While the locking element 19 will remain in looking position by frictional engagement of its end with the'at- I adapted to snap when said element is in locking position, the snapping action being had dueto the resiliency of the element I9.

I The embodiment of the invention shown-{in Figure 3 is identical to that shown in Figured, except that the upper end [4 of the gripping lever 9 is bifurcated as at 23, and a grooved pulley 24 is journaled between the furcations of this end upon a transverse pin 25. By using the pulley 24;,the ease of movement of the rope or line is promoted when placing it under tension prior to final gripping engagement of the endlu with the rope or line.

Referring to Figures 4 to '7, inclusive, which show an embodiment particularly adapted for use in connection with anchor and mooring lines for boats, the attaching member 5a is horizontally disposed and has the lower end of a vertical post 26 swivelled therein so as to overcome any tendency of the rope to slip or move out of the groove of the gripping lever by permitting the gripping means to turn in the. direction of the tension on the rope or line. In this embodiment, the arm 6 extends laterally from the upper end of the post 25, and the swivel connection of the post 28 with the attaching member 5a maybe provided as shown in Figure 5. For this purpose, the

attaching member 5 may be provided with a central, hollow boss 2'1 which rotatably receives a circular enlarged head 23 on the'lowerend of the post 25, said head being retained in the boss by means of a centrally apertured cap 29 that is threaded onto the boss. The cap 29 has a cen.- tral opening through which the post 26 rotatably extends, the top wall of the cap surrounding the post 26 overlying the head 28. As an additional safeguard against slipping of the rope, the. post 25 may be provided below the arm 6 with an opening 313 through which the end of the rope or line may be passed for being knotted at 3! atthe back of the post 25. It is desirable to. .provide means whereby the device of Figure 4 may be readily mountedupon the coaming or other part of a boat for use and removed for safekeeping when not in use. For this purpose, I provide a keeper base 32 for removable, slidable reception of the attaching member 5a. The keeper base 32 is in the form of a flat plate having openings 33 for reception of screws, or the like, so that the keeper base may be secured upon the coaming or other part of the boat, saidplate being provided along both sides and at one end with inwardly projecting, overhanging flanges 3-4 forming ways to receive the side portions and an end portion of the attaching member 5a to retain the device in place. The keeper plate is disposed so that its end flange 3 1 forms a stop for engagement with the end of the attaching member 5a to 4 prevent movement of the device by and in the direction of the tension on the rope or line. Obviously, when the rope or line is released, surficient slack may be had therein to permit the attaching member 5a to he slid longitudinally out of the keeper base 32, whereupon the device is detached and can be put away for safe keeping when not in use.

The form of the invention shown in Figures 8 and 9 is particularly adapted for use as a tightening device for pulley clotheslines or as a gripping device for wire stretchers. It is similar to the embodiment of Figure 1 except that the attaching member 5b is in the form of an upward extension of the inner end of arm 6 and is provided at its upper end with a horizontal, rearwardly projectin integral eye member 35 to facilitate connection of the attaching member to one end of the clothesline, or to part of a wire stretcher by means of a chain 36, or the like. In addition, the-end of'the arm 6 which is provided with theopening, :1 maybe provided at one side with a substantially vertical slot 31: that is open at its ends to permit insertion of the other end of the wire or line 38 laterally-through said slot and intothe'opening I for engagement with the gripping levers; This obviates the necessity of threading the wire or line through the opening I such as is necessary when the-slot 31 is not provided. In Figure 10, the device is similar to that of Figures 8 and 9,.except that the slots! is not provided; As shown,it is usedto connect the ends of a clothesline 39 thatpasses around'spaced pulleys40. and ll attached to supports 42 and 43. One endof'the line 39 is knotted'fat M and passed through the eye member 35 to anchor that end to the arm ,6. .-The other .endof the lineispassed over: lever -or dog 9 and. through, the opening which receives said lever .or, dog, so as to be gripped at ll and 12, as described relative to the other: forms. In operation, the rope .or line is extended through'the opening! behind thelever 9, and the rope or line :is placed under tension by pulling it in a direction opposite to that indicatedbythe arrow a. This tension swings the. leverfi 0n the pivot-bar 8 soithat the...rope or line. isclamped between the end In of lever 9 andthefaced'l of arm '6. By swinging thelever. 9 so 'thatits lower end moves forwardly, the gripping action -.on the rope or line is released, but this :can onlybe effected after the-locking element-'19 is snapped out of the:notch .22'.and swung upwardly to released position. When the element 19 is swung downwardly to locking..position aslshown, the lever is positively held inposition to maintain its grip upon the rope or line. 1

From the foregoing description, it isbelieved that the construction, operation andadvantages of :the present invention will .be readily understood and appreciated byzthose skilled in the art. Obviously, the invention may find embodir. ments in other forms and is susceptible to minor changes in details of construction. such as; fall withinthe scope of the invention as claimed.

WhatIclaimis: 1.- A line-gripping device comprising, in combination with an attaching member having an arm, and a line-guiding and engaging leverc'arried by the arm and movable by tension of the line against one end thereof to bring the other end of the same into engagement with the line, means to releasably latch said lever in line-engaging position embodying an -elongated baiLpivoted. at

one end to said one end of said lever and engageable at its other end with the side of said attaching member which is nearer the lever.

2. A line-gripping device comprising, in combination with an attaching member having an arm, and a line-guiding and engaging lever carried by the arm and movable by tension of the line against. one end thereof to bring the other end of the same into engagement with the line, means to releasably latch said lever in line-engaging position embodying an elongated thrust bail pivoted at one end to said one end of said lever and engageable at its other end with the side of said attaching member which is nearer the lever, said attaching member having a notch adjacent the arm, and said bail being resilient and adapted to have its other end snapped into said notch.

JAMES D. MONIE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

